A few weeks ago I shared five tips for a stress-free road trip, courtesy of National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Along with that post, I asked my readers to share their best road trip tip as an entry for a $50 gas gift card giveaway.
I received some awesome tips–some that I will definitely use on a future road trip, and I hope you will do the same.
Here are 20 Road Trip Tips to make your drive easier:
1. Take the extra 10 minutes to get gas off the highway, it is cheaper. —Adrienne Gordon
2. We travel mostly with our kids, a good tip is to keep a tote bag handy for road trips with the kids. We have a tote bag loaded with special toys, books, and CDs that the kids only play with while we go on trips. I even tend to add a new item or two for the kids to enjoy. —Margaret Smith
3. Stop at parks along the way so the kids can get rid of some energy and then can relax again for the ride. —Shilo Beedy
4. One tip to keep in mind, especially for longer trips, would be to take your car into the mechanic for a vehicle inspection to make sure all the vitals (brakes, battery, fluid levels, tire pressure, lights, etc.) are in tip-top shape. For me, the added peace of mind knowing the car is highway-ready takes a lot of the stress out of driving. —Geoff K.
5. If you’re traveling throughout your state with multiple tolls, consider signing up for discount pass like E-Zpass.
6. Bring snacks, drinks, and plan out in advance where fun places to stop and gas up are with something else to look at off the highway. —Steph
7. Always use your GPS and have a mapquest back up. The hd gps has helped me so much, but there have been times it just wouldn’t turn on and I needed my printed out directions to help me get back to the hotel. —Samantha
8. My best tip is to always bring an emergency roadside kit with because you never know what will happen. —Nicole Larsen
9. Bring a phone charger for the car so your cell phone is never dead in case of emergencies. —Meredith
10. Try to stay at a constant speed. Revving up and down frequently eats up more gas than you think. —Scott D.
11. We always take the portable video player and the kids favorite movies. Keeps them entertained for hours on end. —R Hicks
12. Carry around toilet paper, paper towels, wet naps, and soap because rest stops don’t always have such items. —Sand
13. Make sure your tires are properly inflated (saves on gas) and clean off your headlights each time you fuel up (gives you better visibility when you need to use your lights). —Ted
14. Use priceline.com for cheap hotel deals along the way. The cheapest nights are usually Sunday through Wednesday. —Dan V.
15. Go to Trip Advisor during the planning process of the trip. You’ll find the best places to eat or visit, including local places not everyone has heard of, and see those places rated by consumers who have been there. —Rosey
16. On road trips with kids, we drive at night. We’ve found it a lot easier to let them sleep through the driving part of the trip. —Pauline
17. DON’T SPEED! Hahaha, And take turns driving. —Christofer Floyd
18. We always pack Road Presents. I shop for them in the dollar bins and find cute items on super clearance and wrap them for the kiddo. It helps break up the boredom and then she has something fun to play with. —Brooke R.
19. My best road trip tip is to pack apples…they are scientifically proven to help you stay awake. —Martha Payne
20. My road trip tip is to make sure you bring at least $20 cash with you, in case you end up somewhere that doesn’t take credit. —Alicia E.
